The preparing to go began nearly two years before the traveling though. With a career, kids, a pet and a house to deal with, the whim to just GO had to be carefully planned. I knew the benefits would far outweigh the stress of packing up my old life and so I forged ahead when I still couldn't believe I could even make the trip happen.

This journey gave me the opportunity to visit 15 countries, experiencing the wilds of Africa, the tropical landscapes of Indonesia, the rolling hills of Tuscany, the beautiful coastline of Cornwall and the archipelago of Sweden to name just a few stops along the way. While being able to see and experience the different landscapes of our world was wonderful, it was meeting and making friends with the locals in each place that was the true highlight. Traveling solo for most of the adventure gave me the excellent opportunity to spend time with "myself" and to really think about and shape the next chapter of my life.

There are no regrets in taking time away only the perfect knowledge that it was exactly the right decision to make.

"Every day on the road was an adventure. It was an opportunity to test one's mettle, to be present every moment and to fill the heart with images and memories that will last a lifetime."